WHAT CONSTITUTES AN EFFECTIVE COUNTY PARTY CHAIR

After reading the Haywood County Republican Party's July Newsletter, I felt compelled to express, once again, my concerns for the survival of the Haywood County Republican Party.

In that Newsletter, Chairman Loomis states, and I quote:

"I have spent a fair amount of time asking myself what the Haywood County Republican Party should do. What are a County Political Party's core competencies? Here are the three things that we can do better than any other organisation (misspelt):

1) Recruit good candidates for local elections

2) Increase Republican turnout in our County

3) Encourage people to vote Republican down ballot. (Some

people vote for just the President or Senator and don't vote

the rest of the ballot. We want to encourage people to vote

Republican in the other races.)

I will focus the Haywood County Republican Party on these three goals. Everything else we do must help us achieve these three goals. Our strategy to recruit the needed volunteers is to promote Conservative values and thoughts by townhalls and other meetings."

I'm sorry, Mr. Chairman, first off, why are you spending time asking yourself what the Haywood County Republican Party should do? What it should do is clearly spelled out in our Mission Statement. Maybe you should stop thinking and start reading.

Second, you ask yourself, "what a county political party's core competencies are?" The answer to that question is straightforward: It's "core competencies" are the Haywood County Republican Party's ability to implement successfully its stated mission. Its ability to successfully implement its stated mission is directly dependent on the competency, effectiveness, and capabilities of its Chair, as well as the Chair's ability to motivate and inspire the members of the Executive Committee and volunteers to carry out the responsibilities necessary to fulfill that mission.

Third, you imply that the Haywood County Republican Party can do your stated three functions better than any other organization (which you misspelt). Well, brace yourself for a reality check, because the Haywood County Republican Party has failed to fulfill any of those three functions, let alone doing it better than any other organization.

Fourth, you state that your strategy for recruiting needed volunteers involves promoting conservative values and thoughts through townhalls and other meetings.

If this is your strategy, then you will fail. Promoting conservative values and thoughts through town halls and other meetings alone is unlikely to achieve the recruitment of volunteers, attract good candidates, increase Republican turnout, or encourage people to vote Republican down the ballot. Achieving these goals requires more than promoting conservative values and thoughts through town halls and other meetings; it requires daily hard work, multiple monthly Executive Committee meetings, and, most of all, boots on the ground implementing the actions outlined below.

What I read in the July Newsletter was nothing more than a Kamala Harris word salad with little helpful information. After reading your newsletter, I recommend that you seek writing assistance and consider replacing whoever is advising you on the strategies the Haywood County Republican Party should adopt.

Forget Magical "Thoughts" & Focus on the Following Facts

As both municipal elections and the 2026 mid-term elections approach, the role of an

effective Republican County Chair is vital. It's not just about overseeing and organizing. It’s about leading by example and immersing yourself in volunteer activities. If you expect volunteers to invest time and energy, you must be out front, leading by example.

Given the precarious state of the Haywood County Republican Party, you must demonstrate a clear leadership role by being visible and engaged through actions such as:

• Holding ongoing meetings with Executive Committee members to resolve funding and volunteer problems;

  
  

• Meeting with Republican community business owners to solicit donations;

  
  

• Seeking community speaking engagements to spread the Republican Party's vision, request donations, and recruit volunteers;

  
  

• Hosting fundraising events;

  
  

• Holding monthly Town Hall meetings with subject matter experts on issues Republican voters are deeply concerned about, coordinated by community-established individuals well-versed in those issues and well-connected with the right speaker for the topic to be presented;

  
  

• Establishing strong working relationships with Haywood County elected Republican officials to ensure that any assistance they require to implement the Republican Party Platform is provided; and,

  
  

• Engaging in strategic electoral planning, such as recruiting strong conservative candidates.

These actions will not only build a foundation of respect among Executive Committee members, county party officers, volunteers, and party-elected officials but will also instill confidence in your leadership.

As County Chair, you must be "leading from the front." However, after eleven weeks as the Chair of the Haywood County Republican Party and four months before the upcoming municipal elections, you have yet to demonstrate such leadership.

Upholding Impartiality Amidst Disputes

A key responsibility of any County Chair is to appear impartial, especially during disputes within the County Party. Being an unbiased figure is essential in resolving conflicts.

Personal feelings or favoritism can harm credibility and erode morale among Executive Committee members and volunteers. Therefore, as county party chair, you must adopt the mindset of "Grow the Party, not Divide the Party." This principle should guide every interaction and decision you make.

The mission is clear: grow the party and get Republicans elected. Achieving this requires an inclusive environment where potential volunteers and supporters are welcomed, regardless of disagreements.

Building Partnerships with Local Conservative Groups

As the Chairman, you must identify local conservative organizations that resonate with our values. You must form partnerships, as this is crucial for unifying efforts in electing Republicans and amplifying party messages. If someone shows interest in supporting Republican candidates, they should be allowed a place in our group. Their differing methods will bring innovative ideas to the table.

Engaging with The Executive Committee

As the county chair, you must allocate time for one-on-one meetings with each Executive Committee member, particularly the precinct chairs. You must use these discussions to uncover their ideas, concerns, and challenges in connecting with registered Republicans within their precincts. Only by doing so will you gain a better understanding of the local political landscape and discover opportunities for support.

Given all the problems facing the Haywood County Republican Party, after eleven weeks as chair, you have yet to hold one-on-one meetings with the members of the Executive Committee.

Moving Forward

Effective leadership hinges on the capacity to engage others, foster inclusivity, uphold impartiality, and cultivate strong relationships.

As you work to grow the party, you must invest time in understanding the dynamics at play. Finding common ground among Executive Committee members is essential. By applying these strategies, you could lead with clarity and confidence, guiding our county party to success in the upcoming elections. A proactive approach could position you, not only as a leader but also as a crucial force in shaping the future of our county's Republican party base.  We are still waiting for you to apply these critical leadership strategies.

Are Effective Strategies and Leadership Being Demonstrated?

Eleven weeks into your chairmanship of the Haywood County Republican Party, none of the above-cited strategies for effective county party leadership have yet to be demonstrated.

During those eleven weeks, even though the continued existence of the Haywood County Republican Party is very much in question, your only visible action has been to cancel two of the three monthly Executive Committee meetings scheduled since your election and to hold one Town Hall meeting, at which the guest speaker spoke about his experience as a January 6th participant/victim.

Although this individual's experience with the aftermath of participating in the January 6th rally and entering the Capitol building was of great interest, it had nothing to do with the crucial upcoming municipal elections, raising desperately needed funds, recruiting candidates and volunteers, communicating the Republican vision to potential voters, or getting out the vote this coming November.

After eleven weeks as the Chair of the Haywood County Republican Party, no plans of action or strategies have been discussed, debated, or otherwise shared with the Executive Committee. But then again, if you don't have meetings, how can the Executive Committee function in its role in determining the county party's path forward?

Visit americaninsanity.org for more information on how to be "The Informed Citizen."